Remote controlled, non-corrosive valves



April 5, 1966 A. P. FA'rToR 3,244,397

REMOTE coNTRoLLED, NoN-coRRosIvE VALVES Filed March 4, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. R ma@ FATTO/Q April 5, 1966 A. P. FATTOR REMOTE CONTROLLED, NON- GORROSIVE VALVES Filed March 4 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A A A A An IN VENTOR. ,4m-Hw? P F4 fr0/e BY W United States Patent O 3,244,397 REMOTE CONTROLLED, NON-CGRRGSIVE VALVES Arthur P. Fattor, 2533 S. University Blvd., Denver, Colo. Filed Mar. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 262,673

1 claim. (ci. 251-137) This invention relates to a remote controlled, non-corrosive valve, more particularly for use in controlling the flow and measurement of noxious, toxic and corrosive liquids and gases.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a highly eficient valve in which all sealing gaskets, stuiing boxes, protruding valve stems, etc., will be completely eliminated and to provide an easily operated valve which `Will be completely and permanently sealed against escape 'andleakage of the liquids and gases being controlled.

Another object is to provide a valve with the above 4characteristics which provide a positive, long-lined self- "seatingand spelf-retaining closure against ow in either desired direction and which'vwill have a rapid opening and 'closing action.

A further Objectis to so `construct -the valve that it can be operatedgelectrically from a remote control and in ,which all of the electrical elements will be completely sealed away from the liquids or gases being controlled.

A still'further object is to incorporate the improved fvalveprinciples in a measuring or batching element whereby, a predetermined volume of gas, liquid or other reagent can be accurately added proportionately to a In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had tothe accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof.` Like numeralsrefer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the descrip- Y., ,In the drawing: FIG. l 'is atop plan View of the improved valve;

f i FIG. `2s al longitudinal, medial section therethrough `ltalenon the'line 2;2, FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is"an"enlargedV cross section therethrough taken `'orrtlieline 343, FIG. 2;

" "'FIG; 4is a similarly' enlarged cross section looking downwardly on the line 4.-4, FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a still further enlarged fragmentary, detail section illustrating'a plug valve and seat as used in the improved valve;l u

FIG.6 is .axlongitudinal sectionsimilar to and on the scale 4of FIG.` 1,; illustrating a measuring embodiment of the "improved "valve; Y

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, enlarged, detail section showing an alternate form of plug valve and seat for the valve of this invention; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, partially broken away view illustrating a type of solenoid and operating circuit which could be used to operate the improved valve.

Referring to FIGS. l-S, the improved valve mechanism is enclosed in a hollow cylindrical valve body 10 preferably molded or otherwise formed from a plastic resin such as Plexiglas, and closed by means of tightly iitting heads 12 and 13 which are permanently cemented or thermally welded into and against the opposite extremities of the body 10. Pipe or tubing nipples 14 and 15 are molded or otherwise permanently mounted on the heads 12 and 13, respectively, and open through the latter to convey liquids or gases to and from the hollow interior of the body 10.

3,244,397 Patented Apr. 5, 1966 A circular Valve seat collar 16 is formed about the passage to the nipple 15 on the interior face of the head 13. The collar 16 is reamed, as shown at 17 in FIG. 5, to provide a valve seat to receive a tapered plug valve element 18. The plug valve element is formed from a resilient, corrosion resistant resin such as Teflon and has a truncated conical exterior Which will wedge into the valve seat 17. The conical surface is preferably grooved to form annular parallel sealing ns 19 thereon which facilitate the seating and sealing of the valve element in its seat. The above described materials, selected for their corrosion-resistance are also ideal for producing a leakproof fit at the valve. The materials Plexiglas and Teflon are suiciently rigid to maintain their form without significant distortion under moderate pressures, however, compared with metals they are quite elastic. When the sealing action takes place as described, the cylindrical Wall 16 forming the seat 17 will expand a very small amount and at the same time the sealing fins 18 will elastically compress within the seat a like small amount. This elastic expansion and compression of the'materials will provide sufficient deflection or give as to permit a tight leakproof closing iit by the valve.

A stem portion 20 is formed on the valve element 18 and this stem extends into and is tiltably mounted on a pivot pin 21 in a socket in the forwardextremity of a fulcrum arm 22. The fulcrum arm 22 and the pivot pin 21 are formed from non-corrosive resin such as nylon The fulcrum arm 22 is pivotally suspended from a nylon shaft 23 ixed in the head 13 diametrically above the valve seat collar 16 and extends rearwardly in the valve body terminating iu a forked extremity 24 adjacent the head 12. It can be seen that if the extremity 24 of the fulcrum arm be elevated, the plug valve 18.will be withdrawn from its valve seat 17 in the collar 16 and that if the arm extremity be lowered, the plug valve will be urged into its seat as shown in FIG. 5.

The actuation of the fulcrum arm is accomplished magnetically by means of an upper solenoid coilf25 and a lower solenoid coil 26 surrounding upper and lower solenoid tubes 27 and 28, respectively. Y The tubes 27 and 28 open to the interior of the valve body and are positioned in alignment with each other in the plane of movement of the fulcrum arm 22 and are integrally molded or permanently formed on the body. The tubes are formed from a non-corrosive resin such as nylon or Plexiglas and are completely closed at their outer extremities by means of plastic plugs 29 permanently cemented therein. j

An elongated solenoid armature member 30 is longitudinally movable in and reciprocates between the two solenoid tubes 27 and 28. The armature member is formed with a medial flat portion 31 which iits into the forked extremity 24 of the fulcrum arm 22. The furcations. ofthe ,forked extremity are notched `to ,receive a pivot pin 32 projecting oppositely outward from the ilat portion 31. The armature member 30 is formed from iron, is completely surrounded by a plastic envelope 33 and terminates in plastic wear caps 34 which slidably engage the interior Wall of the tubes 27 and 28.

It can be seen that when the ful'crum is in the lower, valve closed position of FIG. 2, the armature member will be almost completely withdrawn from the upper solenoid tube 2'7. Now if the solenoid coil 25 be energized, the armature member 30 will be instantly attracted upwardly to open the plug valve and allow flow through the valve body. If the solenoid 2S be deenergized, the armature member and fulcrum arm will drop by gravity to force the plug valve to its seat. If the nipple 14 be always used as the intake, the fiuid pressure in the valve body Will urge the valve element 18 to its seat. ln such cases, the lower solenoid coil 26 is unnecessary and may urge and maintain the valve to its seat against pressure.

The valve element pivot pin 21 allows the plug valve freedom to automatically and axially align itsef with its seat. There are more than a sumcient number of fins 19 on the plug Valve when new but as the valve wears from use, the excess fins will gradually replace the worn fins.

Should it be desired to control the amount of opening of the plug valve, the upper solenoid can be wound to provide a plurality of independent vertically-arranged coils as shown at 35, 36, 37, 38, and 39 in FIG. 8. These coils are' successively energized from a power source 4t) through the medium of a controller 41 so that the armature member may be lifted to any desired height in the upper solenoid tube 27 to give the desired valve opening.

In FIG. 7, an alternate magnetic means is shown for urging and maintaining the valve closed. This form is also operated from a fulcrum arm 42 corresponding to the arm 22 previously described. The valve seat in this case, however, comprises a plastic valve seat element 43 vin which an annular permanent magnet 44 is imbedded.

The valve comprises a Tellen cone 45 in which a second permanent magnet 47 o'r a piece of magnetic iron is imbedded. It can be seen that the magnetic` attraction between 44 and 47 will tend to draw the valve to its seat and to maintain it on its seat until forceably withdrawn.

In FIG. l6, the principles of this invention are shown applied to a device for measuring and delivering a desired quantity of gas or liquid which will nd many industria'l uses such as for adding chlorine to a fiowing stream of water. It employs a fulcrum arm 48, similar to the fulcrum arm 22 previously described, connected to a solenoid armature 56. The arm and the armature are completely enclosed in a cylindrical plastic housing 49 provided with a solenoid 5G for actuating the fulcrum arm as previously described.

In the latter case, however, the fulcrum arm, pivoted at 51, carries two plugv'alves 52 and 53 which alternately open and close an inlet valve seat 55 and an outlet valve seat 54, respectively. When in the position of FIG. 6,

'the fluid or gas to be metered is completely closed oi by the inlet valve 53. If the solenoid 50 be now energized, the outlet valve 52 will Vbe snapped shut and the inlet valve 53 will be snapped open to allow a predetermined quantity to flow into the housing under line pressure. When the solenoid' 59 is deenergized, the inlet valve 53 closes and the outlet valve 52 opens to allow the measured quantity to flow from the housing. The housing could, if desired, be connectedl in the line so that the valve 52 would control the inlet and the valve 53 would control the outlet. Thus connected, with the solenoid deenergized, the fluid or gas to be metered would ow past the valve 52 until the housing is completely filled at line pressure, Then, if the solenoid 50l be energized, the

valve 52 will close and the valve 53 will open lto allow the contained quantity to ilow from the housing.

It will be noted that thevarious solenoid tubes will till with the fluid and the latter will act to resist and cushion the movement of the armatures. For a more rapid actuation, the armature can be more loosely fitted in its respective tube or it can be provided With splines or grooves to facilitate flow away from the closed ends of the solenoid tubes.

While a specific form of the invention has been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the lappended claim, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

An electrically-operated valve for controlling the ilow of fluid through a conduit of a non-corrosive type having an elongated, completely sealed body of corrosionresistant resin materials, including a sea't at oneV extremity thereof, and diametrically opposing closed tubes at the opposite extremity thereof, a fulcrum arm member positioned within and lyinglongitudinallyof the body, a transverse pivot pivoting the arm at one said extremity in diametrically spaced relation to said valve seat, a valve element mounted on the arm at said one extremity in alignment with said seat, a corrosion shielded magnetic armature within the body, extending into said tubes and connected with the arm adjacent yto said opposite extremity and being adapted to move into one tube to shift the valve element against the seat for closure thereof and to move into the other tube to shift the valve element away from the seat for opening thereof, and solenoid coils surrounding the tubes adapted to be energized to selectively shift the armature into one tube or the other, and wherein, said seat is formed in a short collar member projecting from the interior of the body and said valve'elemen-t includes circumferentially extending ns, with the fins being adapted to move into the seat colla-r to resiliently expand the collar and to be compressed thereby to secure a leak tight rit.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,034,272 3/1936 Schroeder 251-1347 2,052,246 8/1936 Ray `251---138 2,089,279 8/19'37 Loeier A251-l37 2,750,960 6/1956 Hansen 251-137 2,770,443 1l/1-956 Rand 251-333 2,934,088 4/1'9'60 Chace 251-368 3,095,902 7/1963 Caton 2'51-1'3'7 FOREIGN PATENTS 416,244 9/1934 Great Britain.

r M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

J. FENNELL, L. KAMPSCHROR, S. SCO'I'I,l

Assistant Examiners, 

